No, I know there are some that are pretty bad, I think Denver and like Sacramento, and of course there's Boston, but the Raptors ones are fine, the Lakers ones are okay, and I think I remember New Orleans also being decent as well as the Nets ones. I can't really remember all the commentators in the league, so I can't comment on all.

In the end, home commentators are supposed to be fans of the home team, so I've never understood why people got so offended by home commentators not going out of their way to praise the opposing team and being more excited for the home team. Duh! That's their job.

CP3Best

04/08/2014 - 10:19 PM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 5074

I remember that Cleveland and Boston were really bad, TERRIBLE, hugely biased, but I hate it when it's on ESPN or TNT or whatever, and guys like Hubie Brown who are supposed to be IMPARTIAL, start talking about how the Lakers need to do this and this and this, You're supposed to be praising the good team, not drafting a declaration of the Lakers third-rate everything. Like the time we beat them by 50, the guys did do that, "It's like an All-Star game except all the All-Stars are on one team."

CP3Heliflopter

04/08/2014 - 10:41 PM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 7252

Cleveland and Boston are really awful lol.

I have heard many good announcers. Some are more impartial in fact.

TheThinkingSomething

04/09/2014 - 12:41 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 195

IMO, the broadcasters for Chicago are the worst. I was watching this game on NBATV one time and Rose missed a layup, the play-by-play guy proceeds to say "Well, Rose must have been fouled right there, because he doesn't miss those shots." WTF?!?

BaadMaster

04/09/2014 - 12:52 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1851

Location: Los Angeles

As a relative newcomer to Clipper Nation, at first I was baffled why Ralph gave the opposition a BINGO for a three. After reading your post, I have totally changed my mind. In a world where "class" is rapidly being replaced by "a**," Lawler's approach is the right way to go.

These great announcers, like Ralph Lawler, Vin Skully and Chick Hearn, are all going to be missed, ultimately replaced by ultra-homer robots who all sound the same.

Maybe Ralph or Vin will make it to a hundred, age wise. "First to a hundred wins. It's the law!"

toohipcliptoslip

04/09/2014 - 12:52 AM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 5425

I've always felt Mike and Ralph were the best except for guys like Harlan and Albert and? and? I hated listening to Chick Hearn. Chick never realized that he wasn't on radio and didn't and didn't have to describe everything in detail with such mania but I found my favorite and of course I don't know his name. He works for the T Wolves. He explains every play as it happens like " They're using a motion offense" or "Bill is doing a ball screen for John" etc so you understand exactly what's going on. I'd trade Smith for that guy any day.

TheThinkingSomething

04/09/2014 - 12:57 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 195

But then we'd have no color commentary. Don't get me wrong, I'd be down to trade Mike Smith for a few water bottles, and let Chris Paul Jr. take over his chair.

Silasie

04/09/2014 - 07:08 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2815

^

Give Chris Jr a few years and he might be quite good. He'll certainly know enough about the game.

I think they strike a good balance of being Clips fans and a level of objectivity.

JQuick32

04/09/2014 - 09:04 AM PST

Posts: 3385

I have never liked Mike, but Ralph is a legend.

Laak

04/09/2014 - 09:14 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1083

Ralph is among the best. But can't stand listening to Mike, way to biased.

namzug

04/09/2014 - 10:27 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1370

Location: So Cal

I don't hate Mike, and it always seems like he is in touch with what's going on. With that said I think Ralph has been the best. He speaks his mind and the back and forth between Mike and him is always great.

dom1

04/09/2014 - 10:33 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 200

Portland and phoenix annoucers are both annoying..Mike barrett in portland and Eddie Johnson in Phoenix irks my nerves with there constant complaining every time we play them

MunoValente

04/09/2014 - 11:20 AM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 636

Chick usually was on the radio, they would broadcast the same feed to both TV and Radio.

I don't like Mike Smith at all, definitely would mind us replacing him.

I liked Walton when the team was terrible, but not so much when he did TV for good teams. The Cavs announcers are similar, good at keeping things fun when the team sucks, but potentially annoying if the team is good.

Based on league pass I keep going back to Toronto, Minnesota, Washington and Phoenix so their announcers must not be too bad.

TheDude

04/09/2014 - 11:21 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2905

Love Ralph and Mike too. They're a great team, Ralph is the lovable legend but increasingly Mike is starting to carry him. He's been good these past couple years as far as covering up or correcting Ralph's mistakes at the right times. Probably the majority of CTB members don't notice as much because there is an insane level of team knowledge on this board and theres little need for announcers in Clips games...But to a layman, ralph says a lot of stuff that makes no damn sense, especially the past two years.

If I had my way, Ralph stays on the telecast until death do us part but I also have a lot of respect for Mike Smith and the balance he creates with Ralph.

My least favorite is Stu Lantz. The slow sentence as they go to commercial, usually a pointless comment, every single game every single commercial. Most of my friends are Laker fans and they like him, I just don't get it. The guy is so annoying.

cliptastic

04/09/2014 - 11:48 AM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 252

I agree Stu Lantz is terrible. Even my Laker fan friends agree. One of my favorite non-Clipper announcers is Mike Breen from the Knicks. He will occasionally do telecasts for ESPN and ABC. I like him more than Mike Smith. I like the balance that Mike Smith has with Ralph, but some of his comments are kind of annoying. Like how every other sentence he says is some type of rhetorical question.

Jerediscool

04/09/2014 - 11:51 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 2027

Portland has a very similar feel to the clippers. Mike Rice is awesome and Mike Barrett is a fritatta

06clippersfan

04/09/2014 - 11:55 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 193

Isn't this Ralph Laulers last year announcing the games? I believe I read that this offseason.

Lakers and Nets have the worse announcers! If their team makes a layup they get all excited and say it was an amazing play lol

The Pelicans announcers are decent.

It will definitely be sad when Ralph retires. He is a great announcer!

Kerley

04/09/2014 - 12:22 PM PST

Clipper D-League Pickup

Posts: 33

Yes, Ralph is a legend. I've always viewed Mike as our lovable idiot that says the right things at the right time like the flying lion thing. I'm always rewinding the game just to hear what Mike said, but he is a bit of a homer but I love it.

I'm happy Ralph is getting to see a winning team on his last years calling games.

Worst, the Mavs, don't know who they are, but all they do when the Clippers play is complain the entire time about how Paul gets away with a carry every time up the court.

My dream: Give Brian Siemen the promotion to TV when Ralph retires. Him and Mike can run the show for the next decade. Siemen uses metaphors and calls game with such fluid. He's very neutral in how he calls the game but at the same time you know he's a Clipper play by play.

comeONcraig

04/09/2014 - 12:41 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 778

Gotta stick with Ralph, he doesn't take crap from anyone! Anyone remember last year or a couple years ago when he called Cousins a "punk" during Clips vs Kings game? Bad... Ass!

Dunkathon

04/09/2014 - 02:34 PM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1483

Disagree. I personally find both Portland commentators are awesome, albeit a bit homeristic. Then again, I AM a Blazer fan, so my perspective on this is kind of biased.

MrHill

04/09/2014 - 02:52 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 660

Location: In the heart of Clipper Country

I haven't watch the other teams' announcing crews much this season like I used to in years past, but Ralph and Mike are the best among all local TV crews, Clipper bias aside. I've always enjoyed Mike Breen, whether he does Knicks games or his ESPN/ABC telecasts. Ian Eagle with the Nets is pretty good as well (and I've always liked him also on CBS' NFL and NCAA basketball telecasts). I don't have much of an opinion about the other local crews, other than the Cavs' and Kings' teams are unlistenable IMO.

ClipperDB

04/09/2014 - 04:43 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 366

I used to root against the Fakers when Chick was doing their games. Now I don't like John Ireland on their radio games.

run2dahgoal

04/09/2014 - 04:52 PM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 194

I enjoy Clyde Frazier's commentary. i don't think that man will ever run out of words to rhyme with. That is one of the things I look forward to whenever I watch the Knicks play. It may be me, but Mike Breen just sounds different when he does an ESPN game. I remember last season there was a fly annoying the people on the (I guess you can call it) the commentary row. According to Walt, their technique was wrong. Later, from his book, an illustrated tutorial was posted on how to catch a fly. I found it hilarious.
Mike Smith....

Love Ralph but Mike gets on my nerves at times, talks junk half the time, other than that most hated announcers, Jazz

MrHill

04/09/2014 - 06:53 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 660

Location: In the heart of Clipper Country

If you have DirecTV, their version of League Pass does carry dual feeds...of course, if one of the teams isn't televising, you're just stuck with one feed. However, I do wish they would do one better--have an option where you could listen to the radio feed of a team broadcast (via the SAP option on your TV).

JQuick32

04/09/2014 - 08:36 PM PST

Posts: 3385

If you're talking about Heinsohn, that's his schtick, he does it every game. Every call that goes against Boston, whether it's good or bad, is cause for a complete meltdown from him. And he's now senile, so the remaining airtime is filled with either awkward silence or boring old man stories. Worst commentator by far in the NBA.

Sean Elliot and the Nuggets, Rockets, and Cavs crews are all pretty bad as well.

Dunkathon

04/09/2014 - 09:33 PM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1483

Funnily enough, I really wish Jeff Van Gundy had been the one to become a coach (in his case, return to coaching) instead of Jackson. Mark Jackson is a great commentator, while Gundy's commentating feels like I'm listening to a radio shock jock.

run2dahgoal

04/09/2014 - 09:56 PM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 194

^that last option would be boss; who wouldn't use this option for TNT/ESPN games (most likely these are the games where Ralph and Mike are moved to the radio). That SAP option has been around FORever (I remember watching a then WWF....

for me it's TNT.... I hate TNT everything.... except for Shaq'N a Fool

everything TNT basketball is stupid!! not funny and annoying!!

even when I was a lakers fan (10+yrs ago) I hated the annoucers and I hated that Ireland ding-bat douche bag...

I can remember turning to watch clippers vs lakers (mind you I was still a lakers fan at the time) and listening to Ralph, thinking to myself the lakers need this guy.... now that I'm 100% clippers am glad to hear ralph's BINGoooooooooOOooOoOoOoooooOOoO every game....

He will be missed..... correct me if I am wrong... this is his final season, correct?

Agent0

04/10/2014 - 12:46 PM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 6773

TheThinkingSomething wrote:

IMO, the broadcasters for Chicago are the worst. I was watching this game on NBATV one time and Rose missed a layup, the play-by-play guy proceeds to say "Well, Rose must have been fouled right there, because he doesn't miss those shots." WTF?!?

Chicago is actually pretty bad, that I agree with for sure, especially the color commentary guy, he's really weird.

cliptastic wrote:

I agree Stu Lantz is terrible. Even my Laker fan friends agree. One of my favorite non-Clipper announcers is Mike Breen from the Knicks. He will occasionally do telecasts for ESPN and ABC. ....

Ralph and Mike are defiantly the best in the league right now. They do their research and tell great stories while keeping the games fun to watch. I also really enjoy the Suns broadcast team. They are not homers but get enthusiastic about their team. I also like the Kings broadcasters and Toronto guys are good too.

I really dislike listening to the Memphis broadcasters and the Portland ones. My brother is a big Blazer fan so he is always blasting their games. Really can't stand those guys, even though Blazer games are fun to watch.

ClipperDB

04/10/2014 - 01:53 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 366

As much as I think Mike Smith is too much of a homer, he did say last night, "clippers need this rebound" , and it was profound.

prokreation

04/10/2014 - 03:13 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 738

Ralph Lawler is one of the best ever. His positivity throughout all these years is amazing. Mike Smith is ok. BRIAN SIEMAN on am980 is THE BEST PLAY BY PLAY Announcer since Chick Hearn. We are lucky to have him. He's the best.

Stu Lantz is the WORST. He says the most obvious things as if they're profound. He thinks he's so smart and he says the most basic things and draws it out.

John Ireland is actually a lot better than I thought he would be. But he's so annoying.

Mychal Thompson is funny but says the same thing over and over.

Don Mclean might be one of the most boring analysts in the history of sports. Great mid range jumpshot. Awful commentator.

Petros is annoying. How the hell does Money work with him every day when P cuts him off every day.

MAX and MARCELLUS is THE BEST SHOW on RADIO. AM710 at 3PM.

clipperboy24

04/10/2014 - 09:33 PM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 4977

Ralph is awesome. Mike smith is terrible. He doesn't even talk about the game for half the broadcast

LuckTheFakers

04/11/2014 - 12:26 AM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 344

If you don't recognize that Mike Smith is a huge homer, that means you are a homer yourself. Nothing wrong with that, but the guy doesn't even try to hide his bias. I thought Bill Walton was hilarious and would love to have him back.

For other teams, the Indiana guys are really good.

ClipperPostman

04/11/2014 - 06:19 PM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 3201

They are the best combo is sports announcing period. I'm not just

saying that because I am a homer.

They created a perfect team. The old wise man lawler who understands

principles and is very basketball wise, but is old school and doesn't

like many of the new changes like "replay".

Mike smith - The young gun who sometimes says the most retarded things,

but that is what makes it fun. Mike smith is more up to date with metrics

and likes the new rules.

The best is when Lawler clowns Mike Smith's playing days. He doesn't

do it as much, but I use to die laughing when he would joke about Mike

Smith being on the bench.

All in all Best tandem in sports.

tense2

04/11/2014 - 07:16 PM PST

CTB MVP X3

Posts: 11527

Maybe not the best, but surly one of the best.

marten81

04/12/2014 - 04:26 AM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 270

Its ok when a home team announcer has the home team as his favorites, that is fine, it just gets anoying when they don't respect the opponent at all. I think it was memphis where one of the 2 goals for the team from the announcers was "dont fall for theatrics", or some announcers just see calls wrong, even in slow replays, "that clearly was not a foul".

And that old man from the lakers game announcers was just horrible.. he was supposed to be neutral, every thing he said was from a lakers pov.. f/e: clippers make a good offensive play, he go's "well that is what u don't want, that you let them open the defense like that." Should ad least add in "if u hare the lakers" somewhere in there imo.

I'm a bit annoyed actually, my league pass subscription should give me the home team announcers, last 3 home games i gotten the national tv noobs 2 times. That van gundy dude... so terribad.

cleepers

04/12/2014 - 10:56 AM PST

CTB MVP X3

Posts: 10461

I may be in the minority, but I like Mike Smith. Seems like he's approached his announcing career like his playing career. He wasn't blessed with natural talent or charisma, but he's worked hard to control the things that hard work can control.

He digs deep into the game notes and supplements them with well-researched extra stats and little-known facts, talks to the opposing team's players, coaches and announcers to get the other perspective and does his utmost to be a good straight-man for Ralph. He also interacts with fans on social media, running his own little competitions for giveaways - which the FO must love because it reflects very well on the franchise.

He may not have the cache of a big-name ex-player, but he works his nuts off to do his job to the best of his ability... and that deserves respect.

Ralph is just gifted with a lot of charisma and has the experience of having seen more basketball than perhaps anybody working in the league. A true legend.

We're lucky to have them both, in my opinion.

Worldbthree

04/12/2014 - 04:55 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 253

I have grown to like Ralph and Mike, but sometimes they lose me. Watching the Clips and Ki gs they both are going on and on about how great Joey Crawford is. Joey Crawfors is too old and is absolutely terrible with his "all about Joey" act. I wonder how can someone be so knowledgable about the NBA and make not only one wrong statement but continue that theme throughout the entire game.

MrHill

04/14/2014 - 03:53 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Age: 35

Posts: 660

Location: In the heart of Clipper Country

If there's one thing about Ralph and Mike I do dislike, it's that they're "homers" for referees...no matter if there's a bad call against the Clippers (I'm talking something real blatant), they'll applaud the referees.

Joey Crawford is an obnoxious and self-centered referee...I hate the Spurs, but I can remember that game from a few years ago when Crawford tossed Tim Duncan out of a game simply because Duncan was sitting on the bench and laughing, while Crawford looked towards his direction.

MrHill

04/14/2014 - 03:58 PM PST

Clipper Starter

Posts: 660

Location: In the heart of Clipper Country

I've pointed out several times over the years that since Chick Hearn died, Lantz's analysis (or lack thereof) has been exposed for being nothing but cliches and obvious observations.

proverbs

04/15/2014 - 05:45 AM PST

Clipper D-League Pickup

Posts: 44

I have NBA TV and I feel that Ralph and Mike are the best. I actually like that Ralph and Mike are "homers" sometimes. They are Clipper fans, and sometimes they have biased opinions, especially on those 50/50 calls. This makes me feel that they are watching the game with me.

Silasie

04/15/2014 - 06:44 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2815

^

They are not that much of homers though. What I dislike about some of the other announcers is that the bias is just too much. Ralph and Mike are fair with a appropriate touch of homerism.

Silasie

04/15/2014 - 06:45 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2815

double post

proverbs

04/15/2014 - 03:20 PM PST

Clipper D-League Pickup

Posts: 44

A nice tribute to Ralph. Can't post links, so you have to fill it out.

youtube. /watch?v=cMWWwspdFZM

Anyone else miss the good 'ol days with Bill Walton? That was some entertaining stuff!